The enemy within: epithelial defence against cell death.

上皮组织（如肠道、皮肤）是保护身体免受潜在环境毒素和感染的必要屏障。但是上皮屏障在其组成细胞死亡时，无论是在正常的组织周转过程中，还是在有害的压力下，都会受到损害。该项目研究了一种新的保护机制，基于细胞如何检测机械张力的变化，在健康期间消除死细胞以保护上皮屏障并防止炎症。

Epithelial tissues (e.g. gut, skin) are necessary barriers that protect the body from potential environmental toxins and infection. But epithelial barriers can be compromised when their constituent cells die, either during normal tissue turnover or upon noxious stress. This project investigates a novel protective mechanism, based on how cells detect changes in mechanical tension, that eliminates dead cells to preserve epithelial barriers during health and protects against inflammation.